Description

The B-34 is a typical American bomber in the sense that it's decent payload is outdone by its defensive armament. While it's maximum payload and the ability to carry a torpedo is nice, it's not necessarily as good as it's ability to take and give out damage to other aircraft. Start with base/pillbox bombing, and should an enemy fighter come to engage, give him hell with your turrets. do slight maneuvers constantly to throw off his shots while trying to put as many shells into his engine/pilot as possible. with any luck he will fall out of the sky in no time.

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Reasonably effective defensive armament with good coverage on the rear section of the plane.

The dorsal turret can swivel 360 degrees and even fire at targets the nose of the plane

Can provide initial cover for other bombers until fighters reach their altitude.

Blazing fast top speed compared to other medium bombers

Reasonably large payload capacity.

Cons:

The belly of the aircraft is a massive blind spot in the aircraft's defense

Poor climb rate and energy retention

For the most part, the offensive armament will only be useful in attacking enemy bombers, ground targets, or engaging fighters head-on, as the plane is too unmaneuverable for any real dog fighting of any kind.

Steel construction makes this plane particularly heavy, and a small payload limits this plane's ability to be used as a tactical or strategic bomber.

The Elevator can be shot off by an enemy plane easily. This can cause it to become uncontrollable in certain situations. However, it can still be controlled by operating flaps or adjusting engine power.

Poor maneuverability

History

In the beginning of the war, the British was looking for a medium-ranged anti-submarine warfare and patrol aircraft to support the existing Avro Anson. The Lockheed company sent a drawing of thier model 144 civillian airliner. The British Purchasing Commission saw the design and asked Lockheed to make modifications to the model 14, also known as the Lockheed Super Electra. Modifications include two fixed forward-firing Browning 7.7mm machine guns in the nose. There was also the installation of Boulton Paul dorsal gun turrets with two Browning machine guns. Some models had beam guns installed, other had different engines or propellers. They called it the Hudson, eventually it needed a replacement. So Lockheed made it bigger and heavier and introduced it as the B-34 Lexington. It went under the US Army as the B-34, and the Navy as PV-2 Harpoon.(V because Vega aircraft division of Lockheed made the Harpoon.) In British service it was simply called the Lockheed Ventura.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example: